05 Jun 2013

Okavango Research Institute (ORI) management has been urged to improve its communication strategy so that stakeholders can appreciate the institution’s existence.

Members of the ORI advisory committee made the plea during the second ORI meeting aimed at presenting and discussing the operational plan, which aimed at implementing the current Okavango Research Institute strategic plan.

They said management should make the institution more visible and make the public aware of what they could offer to the communities. ORI is a Maun-based research institution under University of Botswana.

Members appreciated the institute's good deeds but raised a concern about its communication strategy noting that relevant stakeholders were not involved. They said the institute should increase its engagement of stakeholders and be a university that could have impact on Batswana.

ORI was advised to keep close communication links with government departments and also increase level of participation on district committees and activities. Members noted that the institute had good programmes, which could benefit government departments, the community and other stakeholders.

Dr Lapo Magole said efforts had been made to improve on communication, adding that were working on their communication strategy. She said their intention was to take the institute to the people so that they could appreciate it.

 “There is a lot of collaboration going on with sister departments and other stakeholders but there is still a room to do more to strengthen that”, she said.

The director of ORI, Prof. Wellington Masamba said they were willing to participate in community activities so that they could have research ideas related to their work. “We need to improve and see how best we can involve the community in our research”, he added.

Prof. Masamba presented the operational plan and indicated that it sets them on a SMART route to achieving their vision and helps them to systematically carry out their mission. ENDS